Spotify has issued a statement denying Drake’s claims that the streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” were artificially inflated. The claim was made in a legal filing last month, where Drake accused UMG and Spotify of conspiring to boost the song’s streams.
However, Spotify argues that it has no economic incentive to promote certain artists over others. It purchased only one ad, Marquee, for €500 to promote “Not Like Us” in France, which is disclosed to users as a Sponsored Recommendation. The company also states that it found no evidence of bots artificially boosting the song’s streams by 30 million.
Spotify and UMG have denied the allegations of manipulation and defamation. A spokesperson for UMG said that the company employs high ethical practices in its marketing and promotional campaigns, and that fans choose the music they want to hear.
The dispute began when Drake accused UMG of conspiring with Spotify to boost “Not Like Us” and also made claims of defamation against the label. However, it’s worth noting that neither artist is directly signed to UMG, as both own their own masters and are licensed to Universal labels for marketing and distribution.
The situation has roots in a long-running feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which escalated with Lamar releasing a series of diss tracks targeting Drake. The dispute seems to have reignited after the release of Lamar’s new album “GNX” last month. It remains to be seen how this will play out in court.
Source: https://variety.com/2024/music/news/spotify-slams-drake-claim-inflated-kendrick-lamar-streams-1236256265